Paintings by Michael Gillespie

2015-03-11T09:18:00.002-07:00

Creek View Pastel, 12x9"

2013-04-18T12:38:00.001-07:00

My painting When David Heard is a finalist in Ray Mar's monthly art contest. The judge's comments:

This is a starkly composed, brooding painting, sensitively and powerfully executed. We are intrigued - what has happened here? We have intruded on an intensely private moment. With clenched fists and an inward, hunched posture, the man telegraphs his internal conflicts. The somber hues of the limited palette and the calm, careful brushwork reinforce the quiet intensity of this piece. The light pattern in the background could be a window, or a church or even a jail. It gives depth and atmosphere to this moody painting. I appreciate the subtle color changes between his sunburned head and face and his paler arms and hands, as well as the interplay of firm, soft and lost edges surrounding the finely modeled forms. A wonderful narrative figurative piece. - Linda Tracey Brandon

2013-03-20T13:12:00.001-07:00

Retired--oil, 11x14"

Available at River's Edge Gallery, Kerrville

Frozen in time, this building and truck sit unused but picturesque on a side street in a small town bypassed by the freeway.

2013-03-11T20:43:00.001-07:00

Dixie Road--oil, 12x9"
A scene in Dixie, Georgia. SOLD

2013-01-30T19:20:00.003-08:00

Peaceful Cove--oil, 11x14"

I based this painting on a smaller pastel painting, and the source for it has been lost from my memory.

Available at River's Edge Gallery, Kerrville

Fuchsia Hair--oil, 14x11"

2013-01-14T15:06:00.003-08:00

Fuchsia Hair--oil, 14x11"

Done in my group painting session.

2013-01-07T19:08:00.002-08:00

Just completed this 20x16" double oil portrait.

SOLD

2012-12-02T11:34:00.002-08:00

Palestine Morning--oil, 11x14"

2012-11-10T09:23:00.002-08:00

San Lozario,El Paso--oil, 8x10"

2012-10-11T07:06:00.004-07:00

F. Scott Fitzgerald - The National Portrait Gallery's Portrait in a Minute. Do you see what's happening in his life in his expression?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhXJsem_kL4&feature=share&list=UUKgRzail9_28oDRHbMKLPRg

2012-09-28T21:48:00.001-07:00

Another First Place Award, this time for Delane from the Texas Visual Arts Association's Portrait show at their gallery in downtown Dallas. This painting was also accepted into the Salon International exhibition in San Antonio, Texas. Delane is a family friend I have known since she was a child. I painted most of this from live sittings.

2012-09-06T11:33:00.002-07:00

Colorful Building--pastel, 6x9"

The title says it all. Well, the late afternoon sun and shadows did their part, too.

2012-09-01T10:02:00.001-07:00

"A room with pictures and a room without pictures differ nearly as much as a room with windows and a room without windows; for pictures are loopholes of escape to the soul leading it to other scenes and spheres, where the fancy for the moment may revel, refreshed and delighted. Pictures are consolers of loneliness, and a relief to the jaded mind, and windows to the imprisoned thought; they are books, histories and sermons which we can read without the trouble of turning over leaves.”

Sir John Gilbert

2012-09-01T09:50:00.002-07:00

River View from Downtown Kerrville--oil, 10x8"

I stood on a pavillion on a high bluff overlooking the Guadalupe River to paint this. On either side of me were the downtown buildings. This part of the river is in Louise Hays Park, where I used to play as a kid. They used to have water skiing exhibitions here.

2012-08-31T15:04:00.001-07:00

Alamo Facade--oil, 12x18"

Latest Alamo painting, (#12 I believe) available at River's Edge Gallery in Kerrville. I feel that every one of these I do is a trip back to my childhood in San Antonio. Besides, I like seeing the sunlight and shadows on historic buildings.

2012-07-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

Delane II--oil, 20x16"

I was recently notified that this painting was accepted in the Salon International in San Antonio. The dates for this prestigious exhibition are April 12 to May 3.

2012-06-25T06:26:00.004-07:00

First sight-size drawing--charcoal, 20x16". Instructor: Steve Armes. http://www.stevearmes.com/

2012-06-10T19:29:00.002-07:00

San Antonio's Alamo--oil, 11x14"

Available at River's Edge Gallery in Kerrville, Texas: http://www.riversedgegallery.net/

2012-06-02T14:15:00.002-07:00

Gulf--oil, 12x18"

A back street in a tiny town in remote west Texas yielded the discovery of this building from yesteryear.

Available at River's Edge Gallery, Kerrville http://www.riversedgegallery.net/

2012-04-24T17:05:00.004-07:00

Turtle Creek Bluff--pastel, 10x8"

Here we are just a few yards downhill from the Kalita Humphries Theater in Dallas, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

2012-04-21T10:40:00.002-07:00

Finish after refining edges, color, background: Donna--oil, 10x8"

2012-04-21T10:38:00.003-07:00

Half tones added

2012-04-21T10:37:00.001-07:00

Color in shadows

2012-04-21T10:36:00.001-07:00

"Wipe out" technique: Even though I drew an outline of the face in this case, usually the canvas is covered with a raw umber wash first, and the portrait is started by wiping out the lights with a paper towel. The darks are painted in with a brush and dark raw umber.

2012-04-21T10:26:00.001-07:00

finish in color: Rembrandt Style Self Portrait, Profile--oil, 10x8"